Mindfulness & Stress Research Center

Because the social burden caused by neuropsychiatric disorders is enormous, addressing these issues has become critical. We established the Stress Research Center in 2013 and developed the Keio Employee Assistance Program (KEAP), an effective return-to-work support program, to solve mental health problems at workplace. The KEAP program has been implemented at various companies, and has improved the retention rate and labor productivity after returning to work. However, it has also become clear that improving mental health in companies and society requires not only interventions for people with mental health problems, but also health promotion for the general population; that new psychotherapies such as mindfulness and positive psychology are effective in improving the mental health and wellbeing of the general population; that improving mental health and wellbeing requires changing people's behavior assisted by an organic linkage between technology and interpersonal interventions.Therefore, based on the achievements of the former Stress Research Center, we decided to expand the scope of our research to include new psychosocial techniques such as mindfulness and promoting the organic linkage between these techniques and technology. We, the Keio Center for Mindfulness and Stress Research tries to contribute to the realization of a society in which all people can improve their mental health and wellbeing.

May 1, 2023 – March 31, 2028